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THE ART BOOK - ART ASSESSMENTNote: Grade levels are given as a guideline only. Lessons are always adaptable.

The Art Book is a special series of lessons from Maryanne Messier, a teacher from Janesville Wisconsin. "This Art Book theme was created to help art educators by giving them another form of assessment. So many times we as art educators find it difficult to assess a child's progress when projects are sent home. By using portfolio assessment it is easier to judge a child's progress because you can see it from beginning to end. The idea of the art book came from a colleague of mine, Mary Jo Paup. She developed the "book" idea while working towards her masters. When she told me about the idea I decided to use it with my kindergartners. I used the Janesville School District's Art Curriculum as a basis for each project page. It was a challenge but well worth it. The beauty of portfolio assessment is that it starts in kindergarten and can follow them through their elementary career. As the child grows so do the books and the lessons. If you decide to use this form of assessment in your class, I hope your class enjoys these lessons as much as mine did.
-Maryanne Messier

Drawing with Children; A Creative Method for Adult Beginners, Too
by Mona Brookes
Founded on the belief that any child can learn to draw realistic pictures using her "alphabet of shapes" while in a noncompetitive environment, Mona Brookes' easy-to-follow, lesson-by-lesson approach to drawing has yielded astounding results with children of all ages.

Colored Pencil Craze
by Walter Foster Publishers
An insanely fun drawing kit which includes 7 pencils, a drawing pad, a sharpener and eraser.